Should you Foster a Dog?

Perhaps you have been thinking about fostering a dog and have been weighing up whether this is the right time? We are big advocates for rehoming and adoption so don’t take what we’re about to say as a deterrent.

Some folks choose to foster as a way to give a dog a nice place to wait out being adopted and to help take stress of a heavy populations at the shelter. Others use it as a way to find their new pet and either way is admirable, but only if the time is right. If your household has a few uncertainties or dramas (financial or otherwise) looming please don’t foster now. Wait until things have settled down. If a dog is coming for a short time or a long time, you need to be in a ‘happy’ place.

Likewise, if you have young children, you already know your kids require a lot of your time. For this reason I would think more than twice before adopting a dog. If you have a dog arrive with any issues (they may not even be evident yet) the dogs progress may even take a step back if not placed in a home where the owner has a big focus on the dog. We’re not talking about showering the dog with love. We mean time, structure, setting and enforcing fair rules, providing exercise and mental stimulation. The dog has already experienced a multitude of changes and needs a lot of care and observation while she adjusts to a new environment. Remember, you may not always have the luxury of a comprehensive behaviour history. If an adult dog is coming to stay with you he is not necessarily a blank page however they ‘can’ start over but they need time. Puppies are easier to mold but they require even more dedication from you.

We’re not suggesting all dogs up for foster or adoptions are in their situation due to behavioural issues. Some are. Others have been commendable pets (at least with whom they used to live) and their owner’s circumstance has changed to a point where the dog was surrendered. A shelter has a big job conducting temperament tests along with all the other requirements. There is so much to consider and it would take more than a brief blog to explore. We suggest making an appointment to talk honestly with a representative from the shelter and be truthful with them. Respect them for being honest with you if they suggest you may not be ready or suitable to provide a foster home.

Leah & Angela OMeara

Hound Dog Day Care (Specialists in Dog Minding & Dog Boarding, Pet Sitting Brisbane & Doggy Day Care Brisbane)